This last Saturday was the first for Winterthur’s Farmstand. A beautiful day and farm fresh vegetables combined to create a successful day for our farmers, Tim and Amy, and HG Haskell of SIW Vegetables.

This summer, I’ve been riding along with many of the garden guides listening to their interpretation and enjoying the Winterthur Garden. Each time I ride along, I hear a unique story and learn something new.  If you get a chance to listen to Nora’s interpretation, you’ll hear about native plants and favorite trees.  Jeannette weaves a story of beauty that connects the house to the garden. Duncan’s engaging tour is full of fun with facts and stories thrown in for good measure. JJ’s tour incorporates lovely transitions from one garden area to another. Each garden guide has his/her own perspective on the world and on this garden in particular. Hope you’ll ride along on the garden tram tours this summer.

What’s of interest today?  Bright pink Crape myrtle at the East circle near the Dorrance Gallery, white Crape myrtle and Rose of Sharon in the lower Reflecting Pool garden.  ”Naked ladies” or “Resurrection lillies” Lycoris squamigera is coming up amongst hosta making it look like the hosta have an amaryllis-like pink flower.  

 http://plants.usda.gov/java/profile?symbol=LYSQ 

The meadow by Magnolia Bend is fabulous with mixed textures and rich colors of wildflowers and grasses plus butterflies and bluebirds skiting about. Winterthur’s horticulturists and interns are working on re-planting the hill above the museum store with azaleas and camellias.

The children’s gardens near the greenhouses are growing by leaps and bounds. Check out the fig plants in whiskey barrels at the ends of the rows. These are cuttings from H.F. duPont’s figs!

Come, enjoy the Winterthur Garden and let us know your favorite cool place for summer in the garden.

I walked in the garden around lunch time seeking refuge from the hot sun under the amazing trees of the Winterthur Garden. Under these trees on the March Bank, you’ll find hosta and ferns softening the slope. A perfect place to walk on a summer afternoon.

The children’s gardens near the greenhouses are coming along well. Last week I encountered a man and his young son as they watered the boy’s garden, taking great pride in the progress of his zucchini squash.

New this week: special Enchanted Woods-themed signs to lead you to Enchanted Woods from the visitor center. Getting there is half the fun! Let us know if they are placed properly to guide your walk. We may need to make a few modifications to the layout. The small signs are designed to clip to the existing blue “blade” signs so they are as unobtrusive as possible while adding a bit of adventure to the walk to EW.